Background

This study was conducted to evaluate the pain perceptions of newborns during the hepatitis B (HBV) vaccinations performed in the facilitated tucking position and the classical holding position, respectively.

Methods

The randomized controlled experimental study was conducted between 1 September 2014 and 30 December 2014 at the neonatal intensive care unit of a Turkish university hospital. One group of infants was held in the facilitated tucking position (the treatment group; n = 30) during HBV vaccination; infants in the other group were held in the classical holding position (the control group; n = 30) during HBV vaccination. The Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS) scores of the infants in the treatment and control groups were compared during procedure. Also, the infants’ physiological parameters were compared before, during, and after the procedure. Descriptive statistics, a chi-square test, and an independent samples t-test were used to assess the data.

Results

The mean pain scores of infants vaccinated in the facilitated tucking position (2.83 ± 1.18) were significantly statistically lower than the scores of infants vaccinated in the classical holding position (6.47 ± 1.07) (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The pain perceptions of newborns held in the facilitated tucking position during HBV vaccination were lower. The facilitated tucking position, a non-pharmacological method, is recommended as an effective and useful method for reducing pain during the procedure.

Pain in newborns is a complicated, individualized, subjective, and universal finding [1]. The most common painful procedures performed during infancy are routine injections without pain management [1, 2]. Vaccinations are first administered when babies are very young [1]. Studies have shown that uncontrolled pain experienced during the early stages of life has negative and long-term side effects, such as distress, and that such pain negatively affects the development of the central nervous system [3–6].

The most important problem encountered while evaluating pain in newborns is the inability of babies to express pain verbally. Attention should be paid to non-verbal indications during communication established with infants. Physiological parameters, behavioral methods, and stress hormones have been evaluated to define the pain felt by newborns [7]. Pain experienced by newborns affects the heart rate, respiration rate, blood pressure, and tissue oxygenation, potentially causing these parameters to decrease or increase [8].

Pharmacological methods used to relieve pain in newborns are reported to have side effects such as respiratory depression, apnea, bradycardia, hypotension, desaturation, partial airway obstruction, and hypersalivation [9, 10]. Non-pharmacological and pharmacological methods are considered for pain relief by health stuff. These methods are valuable alternatives for pain control during brief invasive procedures performed on newborns [11, 12]. One method, the facilitated tucking position, is defined as “a sub-form of method of nesting the baby and the procedure of bringing the body to middle or even close position by holding the upper and lower extremities of the baby in flexion with hands.” An infant can be held in the lateral, supine, or prone position while this method is performed [12, 13]. It has been reported to prompt infants’ own regulatory systems, prevent painful stimulants coming from the outside world, and reduce the pain felt by the infant by enabling heat and touching stimuli [14–16]. In addition, this method stabilizes infants’ physiological parameters and helps them gain a feeling of safety based on the position, supports their motor development, and preserves their energy [15].

Although many studies are reported on procedural pain control and assessment in the infants [13, 15, 17–24], there are no studies on facilitated tucking position to alleviate the pain associated with the vaccination. Recent studies have focused on pain physiology, pain assessment, and pharmacological interventions [4, 25]. The primary responsibility of a nurse is to ensure that pain-relieving methods are performed before and after a procedure during routine practices in addition to determining and relieving the pain. After an accurate assessment, the pain felt by a neonate can be managed through effective care provided by family-centered and individualized pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods [26].

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pain perceptions of newborns during HBV vaccinations performed in the facilitated tucking position and the classical holding position, respectively.

Study design

This randomized controlled experimental study was conducted at the neonatal intensive care unit of a Turkish university hospital. The study population consisted of newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit between 1 September 2014 and 30 December 2014 who met the inclusion criteria. The study was conducted on the entire population; no sample group was selected.

Inclusion criteria

Infants with gestational ages of 37 weeks and over, birth weights of more than 2500 g, stable medical conditions, and mothers in the early postpartum period who volunteered to participate were included in the study.

Exclusion criteria

Newborns who had congenital anomalies, required positive pressure ventilation support, and received pain-relieving and sedative treatment were not included in the study.

The study population consisted of 60 infants, who were divided into the facilitated tucking position group (the treatment group; n = 30) and the classical holding position group (the control group; n = 30). The sample size was calculated for the independent samples t-test with 80 % power, significance at the 0.05 level, and standard deviation of 2.16 [27]. The Power and Sample Size program software determined that a sample of 30 subjects in the treatment and control groups would be needed to reject the null hypothesis. The infants were randomized to either the treatment group or the control group in restricted block randomization to ensure a ratio of 1:1. Small blocks cause a degree of predictability; therefore, a block size of 10 was used. Cards prepared with assignments were kept in sealed envelopes and shuffled to produce a form of random assignment [28] (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1

Flow of study

Data collection instruments

The data were collected with the Personal Information Form, Intervention Follow-up Form, and Neonatal Infant Pain Scale by the researcher. The Personal Information Form prepared by the researchers was used to collect descriptive characteristics of the newborn (gender, gestational age, weight, height, delivery method, number of children previously delivered by the baby’s mother, etc.). The Intervention Follow-up Form was used to record the physiological parameters of the newborn before, during, and after the procedure.

The Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS)

This scale, developed by Lawrence et al. [29] in 1993 to evaluate the behavioral and physiological pain responses of preterm and term infants, was adapted to Turkish by Akdovan et al. [30] in 1999. The Cronbach alpha coefficient of consistency was 0.83 during the procedure. The Cronbach alpha was 0.75 in the treatment group and 0.88 in the control group during the vaccination procedure. The scale consists of one physiological section and five behavioral sections, including facial expression, cry, breathing pattern, arms and legs, and state of arousal. The cry section is scored between 0 and 2 points, and the other sections are scored between 0 and 1 point. The total score varies between 0 and 7 points, and a higher score indicates more pain [29, 30] (Table 1).

Procedure

All newborns received a hepatitis B vaccination during the study. Because different practitioners may cause different levels of pain perception, the newborns were vaccinated by the same nurse. Vaccination was performed on the vastus lateralis muscle. Physiological parameters were recorded by a nurse with a monitor starting from 15 s before the procedure. The procedure was recorded using a video camera. Video records were evaluated independently by four specialist observers (pediatric specialist nurse, neonatal doctor, pediatrician who was receiving a minor specialty education in neonate health, and a pediatric neurology specialist). Observers were not informed which newborn belonged to the control group and which newborn belonged to the treatment group. Observers scored the NIPS by evaluating the pain experienced by the newborns. The concordance coefficient was calculated between observers. A good level of concordance was found among the observers (Kappa = 0.65).

Treatment Group

Each newborn in the treatment group was prepared in the facilitated tucking position 1 min before the procedure by the assistant nurse (Fig. 2), and 70 % alcohol was used to clean the area to be vaccinated in accordance with the clinical protocol. After the alcohol had evaporated, vaccination was performed by the nurse practitioner. Video recording was started 1 min before the vaccination and ended 1 min after. The physiological parameters measured by the bedside monitor (heart rate, body temperature, respiration, oxygen saturation) were recorded on the Intervention Follow-up Form before, during, and after the procedure.

Fig. 2

The infant in the facilitated tucking position

Control Group

No application was performed on the newborns in the control group. Vaccination was performed in the supine position on infants in this group as routine clinical practice. The leg that received the vaccination was brought to a straight position (classical holding position) (Fig. 3), and 70 % alcohol was used to clean the area to be vaccinated in accordance with the clinical protocol. After the alcohol had evaporated, the vaccination was performed by the nurse practitioner. Video recording was started 1 min before vaccination and ended 1 min after. The physiological parameters measured by the bedside monitor (heart rate, body temperature, respiration, oxygen saturation) were recorded on the Intervention Follow-up Form before, during, and after the procedure.

Fig. 3

The infant in the classical holding position

Data analysis

The data were analyzed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 20.0 (PASW ver. 20, SPSS Inc., Armonk, NY). Percentage distribution, mean, chi-square test, independent samples t-test, and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient calculation, as well as the kappa test for agreement analysis among independent observers, were used to assess the data. The results were assessed at a confidence interval of 95 % and with a significance level of p < 0.05.

Ethical considerations

Approval was received from Atatürk University Faculty of Health Sciences Ethics Committee, and official permission from the hospital where the study was conducted was obtained. Additionally, informed written consent was obtained from each family included in the study.

Table 1 illustrates the comparison of the descriptive characteristics of the newborns in the control and treatment groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of gender, gestational age, weight, height, delivery method, and number of children previously delivered by the child’s mother (p > 0.05, Table 2). The mean NIPS pain scores of the infants in the treatment group (2.83 ± 1.18) were significantly lower than the scores of the infants in the control group (6.47 ± 1.07, p < 0.05). When 50 % of the infants in the treatment group had no pain, 93.4 % of the infants in the control group had severe pain. (Table 3). When the changes in the physiological parameters of newborns in the treatment and control groups were examined, no difference was found between the groups in terms of fever, pulse, respiration, and oxygen saturation before and after the procedure (p > 0.05, Table 4). The respiration rate of newborns in the control group was significantly higher compared to the newborns in the treatment group during the procedure (p < 0.05, Table 4).

Table 2

Comparison of control and treatment groups according to the newborn’s descriptive characteristics

Variables

Treatment group Mean ± SD

Control group Mean ± SD

Test and p

Gender*

Female

19 (63.3)

15 (50.0)

χ2 = 1.086

Male

11 (36.7)

15 (50.0)

p = 0.217

Gestational age (week)

38.71 ± 0.75

38.86 ± 0.77

t = 0.733

p = 0.467

Birth weight (g)

3318.00 ± 361.19

3380.33 ± 280.28

t = 0.855

p = 0.396

Height (cm)

48.85 ± 2.15

49.13 ± 1.55

t = 0.585

p = 0.561

Delivery method*

Vaginal

2 (6.7)

4 (13.3)

χ2 = 0.71

Cesarean

28 (93.3)

26 (86.7)

p = 0.335

Number of delivery*

Primipara

21 (70.0)

23 (76.7)

χ2 = 0.341

Multipara

9 (30.0)

7 (23.3)

p = 0.386

*n (%)

Table 3

Comparison of mean NIPS scores of newborns in the control and treatment groups

Treatment group Mean ± SD

Control group Mean ± SD

Test and p

NIPS scores

2.83 ± 1.18

6.47 ± 1.07

t = 12.489

p = 0.000

Pain level groups*

0-2 points (No pain)

15 (50.0)

1 (3.3)

3-4 points (Moderate pain)

11 (36.7)

1 (3.3)

>4 points (Severe pain)

4 (13.3)

28 (93.4)

*n (%)

Table 4

Comparison of the physiological parameters of the treatment and control groups before, during, and after the procedure

According to the synactive theory, the facilitated tucking position is a non-pharmacological pain method that helps infants feel safe, preserve their energy, calm themselves, and reduce their oxygen consumption [15, 16]. During the classical holding position, which does not include a developmental care technique such as embracement and touching, the infant cannot feel safe. This causes the newborn to perceive more pain. The needs of each newborn should be considered by controlling and organizing environmental factors and applying care requirements to support each child’s development and life adaptation skills [31]. Controlling environmental stimuli also ensures that the newborn is calmed in addition to feeling pain relief [32]. The care plan should be monitored by using pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods to control the newborn’s pain [33].

Pain severity should be evaluated with multidimensional pain scales suitable for infant conditions and on which validity and reliability studies have been conducted to evaluate pain felt by newborns [34]. Individualized developmental care techniques and an environment that supports the newborn’s developmental abilities and enables the newborn to cope with stress and pain should be created [35]. In this study, infants were held in the facilitated tucking position during HBV vaccination, their pain perceptions were evaluated, and the pain perceptions of newborns held in this position were significantly lower compared to those held in the classical holding position. When examined the literature, facilitated-tucking position has been proven in many studies to be an effective method for relieving many procedural pain (such as heelstick, suctioning, venipuncture) in the infants [13, 15, 17–24]. However, any work that examined the impact of facilitated-tucking position relieving the pain occurred in hepatitis B and other vaccine applications has not been found. In a study conducted by Çağlayan [36] to analyze the effect of the facilitated tucking position, given by hand during the procedure to collect blood from the heel in preterm infants, infants in the facilitated tucking position felt less pain, similar to the results of this study. Ward-Larson et al. [13] performed endotracheal aspiration of 40 preterm infants in the facilitated tucking position and the routine position (in their own position), and the pain levels of babies in the facilitated tucking position were lower. Other studies have also reported that the facilitated tucking position is an effective method for relieving pain during painful procedures [12, 15–24]. Similar to the results of this study, the facilitated tucking position was effective in relieving procedural pain in Lopez et al.’s study [18].

Physiological changes may be part of a newborn’s response to pain; these changes should be monitored until the parameters return to their normal values during the procedure [10]. Physiological symptoms caused by painful stimulators indicate the general stress state of the body. Although the most common physiological symptoms such as heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and oxygen saturation are used to evaluate pain occurring due to acute procedures, hormonal and metabolic variables are also used to assess pain [32]. No statistical difference was observed between the groups in terms of the pre-procedural and post-procedural respiration, heart rate, fever, and SpO2 mean scores, a significant difference was found between the groups in terms of respiration during the procedure. Normal respiration values were between 30 and 60/min in the physical evaluation of newborns [37]. In this study, the respiration rates of the infants in the control group were within normal limits although the rates were higher than the rates of the infants in the treatment group.

The facilitated tucking position was more effective than the routine position in relieving pain that occurred due to vaccination. Therefore, this position can be used in conjunction with pharmacological methods during painful procedures due to its simple, inexpensive, and non-invasive application. Additional evidence-based studies that use facilitated tucking in other areas of newborn care should be conducted.

Acknowledgements

We are very gratefully for the parents who allow their infants to participate in this study. We would like to acknowledge the assistance and guidance provided by Dr. Ayda Celebioglu.

Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors’ contributions

SK and AA has been involved in revising the manuscript for important intellectual outcome; SK, ŞK and AA have given substantial contributions to conception and design of this study; SK and AA performed the statistical analysis and drafted the manuscript; SK, ŞK and AA critically reviewed the manuscript and supervised the whole study process. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Fetus and Newborn, Canadian Paediatric Society, Fetus and Newborn Committee. Prevention and management of pain in the neonate: an update. Adv Neonatal Care. 2007;7:151–60.View ArticleGoogle Scholar

Çağlayan N. The effect on pain of manipulating the preterm neonate into the facilitated tucking during drawing of blood from the heel. Turkey: Unpublished Msc Thesis. Istanbul University Health Sciences Institute. Istanbul; 2011.Google Scholar